A Gathering of Poets records

May 4 Collection - Boxes 75, 76, 76A, 76B

Finding Aid

Prepared by Nancy Birk and Gail Redmann, February 1994; Revised January 2018; Last Updated: August 2020

Inclusive Dates: 1989-1993
Extent: 2.33 cubic feet (2 record storage boxes + 2 slim document cases)
Physical Location: 12th floor

Historical Note: On May 4-6, 1990 A Gathering of Poets was held at Kent State University in conjunction with the Kent State shootings 20th annual commemoration events. Approximately 125 poets from all over the United States responded to personal invitations or to the open call to poets to come to Kent State on May 4 and remember the four students left dead and the nine others wounded by the Ohio National Guard. Organizers of the Gathering included Maggie Anderson, Ray Craig, Kathe Davis, Virginia Dunn, Tiff Holland, Judy Platz, and Major Ragain. In addition to the poets who attended in person, many others who were not able to attend sent poems or messages to be read.

Scope and Content: This collection includes planning and logistical files associated with the Gathering of Poets event, poetry prepared as part of the event, recordings of readings and other events part of the 1990 Gathering, and finally files associated with the published anthology A Gathering of Poets, published in 1992.

Arrangement: The collection is organized into the following series. The first three series pertain to the 1990 Gathering event and the final series contains records related to the anthology that was subsequently published.

• Series 1: A Gathering of Poets: Event Files
• Series 2: A Gathering of Poets: Poet Files
• Series 3: A Gathering of Poets: Audio Recordings
• Series 4: A Gathering of Poets: Published Anthology

Restrictions on Access: Some information included in this collection is restricted due to the presence of information protected by privacy laws. This information has been redacted where present on documents in the collection. Un-redacted originals, in all cases, have been retained by Special Collections and Archives.

Sponsor: Digitization of portions of this collection was funded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.

Series 1: A Gathering of Poets: Event Files

Related Material: Correspondence with specific poets attending the gathering and/or participating in the published anthology is found in Series 2: Poet Files.

May 4 Collection - Box 75
Folder -- Contents

1. Gathering of Poets: Article: A Gathering of Poets at Kent State, 1990
   Author: Chase, Stacey
   Scope and Content: Includes a typescript of the article as originally written by Chase and submitted to Poets & Writers, correspondence from Chase to Maggie Anderson, and eight black and white photographs by Chase of the 1990 Gathering and other commemoration events. An edited version of the article appeared in the November/December 1990 issue of Poets & Writers.
2. Gathering of Poets: Clippings, 1990
3. Gathering of Poets: Correspondence: Davis, Kathe, 1989; 1990
4. Gathering of Poets: Correspondence: Food Committee, April 1990
5. Gathering of Poets: Correspondence: Invitation, 1989-1990
6. Gathering of Poets: Correspondence: Thank-yous, 1990
7. Gathering of Poets: Correspondence: to Poets Attending, 1990
8. Gathering of Poets: Correspondence: to Poets Not Attending, 1990
9. Gathering of Poets: Essay: The Problem With This World, undated
   Author: Jaeger, Lowell
   Scope and Content: An essay about experiences at A Gathering of Poets. Full title: The Problem With This World (Kent State University, May 1990).
10. Gathering of Poets: Event Ribbons, undated
11. Gathering of Poets: Flyer: Kent Statement, undated
12. Gathering of Poets: Flyer: Plum Creek Picnic and Poetry, May 1990
13. Gathering of Poets: Flyer: Schedule, May 1990
14. Gathering of Poets: Lists of Poets and Readers, 1989-1990
15. Gathering of Poets: Notes and Meeting Agendas, 1990
16. Gathering of Poets: Photographs, 1990
    Scope and Content: Six color photographs of Gathering of Poets events, but lacking specific identifications. Photographer is unknown.
17. Gathering of Poets: Press Release, undated (but likely 1990)
18. Gathering of Poets: Programs, 1990
    Scope and Content: Includes an hourly schedule of readings.
19. Gathering of Poets: Schedules of Events, 1990
20. Gathering of Poets: Transportation Committee records, 1990

Series 2: A Gathering of Poets: Poet Files

Scope and Content: This series includes poetry and correspondence by poets who participated in or where invited to participate in A Gathering of Poets and its associated anthology. Most of the material in this series dates from 1990.

May 4 Collection - Box 76
Folder -- Contents

1. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Ahshaad, Dahmaad
2. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Anderson, Maggie
3. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Arthwell, Bill
4. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Baker, Michael
5. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Bakken, Dick
6. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Beatty, Jan
7. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Becker, Robin
8. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Beckett, Tom
9. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Bell, Marvin
10. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Bernikow, Louise
11. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Bertolino, James
12. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Bilia, Angela
13. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Bill, Jim
14. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Bloch, Chana
15. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Bloch, Mark
16. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Bourne, Daniel
17. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Boyer, Margot F.
18. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Brandler, Marcielle
19. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Brooks, Gwendolyn
20. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Broughton, James
21. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Browne, Michael Dennis
22. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Bruchac III, Joseph
23. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Bryll, Ernest
24. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Bryner, Jeane
25. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Burton, Leesa
26. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Butts, Walter
27. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Carlsen, Susan
28. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Carson, Jo
29. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Casey, Michael
30. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Chadbourne, Mary
31. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Chase, Stacey
32. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Cherry, Kelly
33. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Clampitt, Amy
34. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Clark, Kevin
35. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Clifton, Louise
36. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Cohen, Andy
37. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Cooper, Jane
38. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Craig, Ray
39. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Crawford, Sophie
40. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Crawford, Tom
41. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Cvetic, Jim
42. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Daniels, Jim
43. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Daniels, Kate
44. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: David, Gary
45. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Davis, Kathe
46. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Davis, Marilyn
47. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Derricotte, Toi
48. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: DiPrima, Diane
49. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Dobler, Patricia
50. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Doubiago, Sharon
51. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Dove, Rita
52. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Drees Kenneth
53. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Dunn, Virginia
54. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Emanuel, Lynn
55. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Emir, Sara
56. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Evans, Laurie
57. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Fay, Julie
58. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Field Edward
59. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Forche, Carolyn
60. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Franke, Chris
61. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Gallagher, Tess
62. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Gawun, Luba
63. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Gertler, Pesha
64. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Gildzen, Alex
65. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Ginsberg, Allen
66. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Goedlicke, Patricia
67. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Hall, Donald
68. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Hansen, Joseph
69. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Hardenbrook, Yvonne Moore
70. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Harjo, Joy
71. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Harshman, Marc
72. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Hassler, David
73. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Hassler, Donald
74. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Hillman, Brenda
75. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Hikmet, Nazim
76. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Holland, Tiff
77. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Horvath, Brooke
78. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Howell, Christopher
79. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Huerta, David
80. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Huffman, Todd
81. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Hutchinson, Jenifer
82. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Ignatow, David
83. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Inado, Lawson Fusao
84. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Jackson State Students
85. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Jacobson, Susan
86. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Jaeger, Lowell
87. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Jakiela, Lori
88. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Jamison, Mark
89. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Janik, Nell
90. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Jones, Mark
91. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Jones, Richard
92. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Joseph, Lawrence

Series 2: A Gathering of Poets: Poet Files (continued)

Scope and Content: This series includes poetry and correspondence by poets who participated in or where invited to participate in A Gathering of Poets and its associated anthology. Most of the material in this series dates from 1990.

May 4 Collection - Box 76A
Folder -- Contents

1. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Kaminsky, Marc
2. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Keatts, Charles
3. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Kerman, Judith
4. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Kinnell, Galway
5. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Komunyakaa, Yusef
6. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Kovacik, Karen
7. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Krahling, Mort
8. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Kumin, Maxine
9. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Lammon, Martin
10. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Leed, Jacob
11. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Leon, Peter,
12. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Levertov, Peter
13. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Liebler, M.L.
14. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Lindberg, Judy
15. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Lipman, Joel
16. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Makuck, Peter
17. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Marcus, Morton
18. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Matthews, William
19. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Matzel, James
20. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: McCafferty, Michael
21. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: McCarthy, Jim
22. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: McFadden, Larry
23. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: McKinney, Irene
24. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: McNamara, Devon
25. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: McNeill, Louise
26. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Metcalf, Paul
27. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Meyer, Thomas
28. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Mihaly, Elizabeth
29. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Monson, Connie
30. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Moore, Honor
31. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Moore, Todd
32. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Morrison, Jeffrey
33. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Moses, Jill
34. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Mueller, Lisel
35. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Murcko, Terry
36. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Muska, Nick
37. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Napier, Alan
38. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Napora, Joe
39. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Oaks, Jeff
40. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Ochester, Ed
41. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Olds, Sharon
42. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Oresick, Peter
43. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Ostriker, Alicia
44. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Pacosz, Christina
45. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Patten, Karl
46. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Paulenich, Craig
47. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Perreault, John
48. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Platz, Judith
49. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Plumly, Stanley
50. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Polite, Frank
51. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Posti, Steve
52. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Pursifull, Deb
53. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Ragain, Major
54. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Ragan, James
55. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Ravikovitch, Dahlia
56. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Roche, Judith
57. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Roffman, Rosaly
58. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Romito, Whitney
59. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Rossiter, Charles
60. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Rutsala, Vern
61. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Rylant, Cynthia
62. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Scates, Maxine
63. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Scott, Gary
64. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Sesto, Cameron
65. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Shearer, Branton
66. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Shelly, Louise
67. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Shelton, Richard
68. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Shevin, David
69. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Snyder, Richard
70. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Sobiesko, Dorota
71. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Sollers, John
72. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Somerville, Jane
73. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Stafford, William
74. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Stamm, Geoffrey
75. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Stanford, Ann
76. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Stein, Dona Luongo
77. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Stein, Kevin
78. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Stern, Gerald
79. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Stevenson, Gerald
80. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Strange, Aralee
81. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Studebaker, William
82. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Takahashi, Shinkichi
83. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Thompson, Daniel
84. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Thornberry, Dave and Jackie
85. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Tidrick, Darrin
86. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Trale, Marianne
87. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Tremblay, Bill
88. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Trigilio, Tony
89. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Tulencik, Wendell
90. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Tyler, Steve
91. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Umrigar, Thirty
92. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Valentine, Jean
93. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: van Itallie, Jean-Claude
94. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Van Riper, Craig
95. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Vollmer, Judith
96. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Walker, Alice
97. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Waters, Michael
98. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Wei, Eva
99. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Weigl, Bruce
100. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Weiler, Robert A.
101. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Whitcome, Lee
102. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Wikle, Lynn
103. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Wilkens, Jim
104. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Williams, C.K.
105. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Williams, Jonathan
106. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Williams, Sandra
107. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Williamson, Alan
108. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Wohlken, Gayle
109. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Wright, C.D.
110. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Yasutome, Kay
111. Gathering of Poets: Poet Files: Zimmer, Paul

Series 3: A Gathering of Poets: Audio Recordings

Scope and Content: This series is comprised of 14 audio cassette recordings of readings performed as part of A Gathering of Poets in May 1990. Poems, poets, and readers are in the process of being identified at this time. More detailed information on content will be provided in future. Please note that the sound quality of most of these recordings is very poor.

Contents

1. Gathering of Poets: Readings: Tape 1, 1990
2. Gathering of Poets: Readings: Tape 2, 1990
3. Gathering of Poets: Readings: Tape 3, 1990
4. Gathering of Poets: Readings: Tape 4, 1990
5. Gathering of Poets: Readings: Tape 5, 1990
6. Gathering of Poets: Readings: Tape 6, 1990
7. Gathering of Poets: Readings: Tape 7, 1990
8. Gathering of Poets: Readings: Tape 8, 1990
9. Gathering of Poets: Readings: Tape 9, 1990
10. Gathering of Poets: Readings: Tape 10, 1990
11. Gathering of Poets: Readings: Tape 11, 1990
12. Gathering of Poets: Readings: Tape 12, 1990
13. Gathering of Poets: Readings: Tape 13, 1990
14. Gathering of Poets: Readings: Tape 14, 1990

Series 4: A Gathering of Poets: Published Anthology

May 4 Collection - Box 76B
Folder -- Contents

1. Gathering of Poets Anthology: Clippings and Publicity, 1992-1993
   Scope and Content: Clippings, press releases, flyers, blurbs, and other promotional and publicity materials related to the anthology and associated readings performed in conjunction with the book's release.
2. Gathering of Poets Anthology: Correspondence to Contributors, 1991-1993
   Scope and Content: Form letters sent to potential contributors and letters sent to contributors after the book was published.
3. Gathering of Poets Anthology: Correspondence to/from KSU Press, 1990-1992
   Scope and Content: Includes the book proposal for the anthology.
4. Gathering of Poets Anthology: Editors' Files, 1990-1992
   Scope and Content: Includes correspondence, outlines, notes, and other planning documents produced by the editors of the anthology.
5. Gathering of Poets Anthology: Reviews, 1992-1993